HC Issues Notice to Haryana Govt Over Withholding Army Veteran's Teacher Pension
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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a formal notice to the Haryana government, seeking a comprehensive response over the administrative withholding of the monthly pension of retired school teacher and Army veteran Lalit Bhardwaj. Hearing the writ petition, a single-judge bench presided over by Justice Harpreet Singh Brar took note of the petitioner's plea that his pensionary disbursements were summarily halted in April 2026 despite investigating authorities submitting a cancellation report that verified his educational credentials as authentic. The judicial intervention highlights a prolonged administrative dispute involving official name changes under military service protocols and subsequent fraud allegations raised by the state education department following his retirement.
Decorated Military Service and Smooth Transition to Teaching Career
The petition outlines decades of dedicated public service across the armed forces and the state educational apparatus:
Over a Decade in the Armed Forces: The petitioner served in the Indian Army for more than 12 years before receiving an honorable medical discharge, after which he secured appointment as a school teacher in the Haryana Education Department.
Lawful Name Change Under Army Orders: During his military tenure in 1991, he formally altered his name from Lala Ram to Lalit Bhardwaj in strict compliance with military regulations, an amendment officially notified through the Army’s Part II order.
Unblemished Two-Decade Teaching Career: Bhardwaj completed over 20 years of continuous service in the Education Department without a single disciplinary blemish, earning promotion to the post of Post Graduate Teacher (PGT) English with retrospective effect from April 13, 2022, before reaching superannuation on December 31, 2024.
Denial of ACP Increments: Despite his long, unblemished record, the department withheld his entitlement to the second Assured Career Progression (ACP) financial upgradation scheme upon retirement.
Fraud Allegations Collapsed: University Validates Degree and Police File Closure Report
The criminal case that triggered the suspension of his retirement benefits quickly dissolved during formal police verification:
Belated FIR Over Minor Certificate Typo: Over a year following his formal retirement, an FIR was registered on January 17, 2026, under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, alleging misprints and discrepancies in his B.Ed. degree and educational mark sheets.
Affirmation by Degree-Granting University: During the statutory investigation, the issuing university formally certified that the academic degrees were genuine, original, and properly awarded.
Cancellation Report Submitted in Court: On July 3, 2026, the police investigating officer submitted a formal cancellation report before the Judicial Magistrate, concluding that no criminal offense took place, with the initial complainant also endorsing the findings.
Arbitrary Pension Freeze: Despite the exonerating closure report, the state authorities halted his pensionary benefits in April 2026 without conducting a formal departmental inquiry.
State Defends Stand Citing Lokayukta Complaint; Next Hearing Set for November 17
During open-court arguments, the bench questioned the state over procedural lapses in sanctioning a retired employee:
Government Challenges Police Findings: State counsel argued that the department had lodged an objection petition against the police cancellation report, asserting that the departmental complainant's initial agreement lacked official clearance and was made under alleged pressure from the investigating officer.
Parallel Lokayukta Proceedings: The state further submitted that the broader administrative dispute remains sub judice before a trial court and is subject to a concurrent complaint pending before the Lokayukta.
Lack of Pre-Retirement Charge Sheet: The state government's legal representative could not refute the crucial fact that neither a departmental charge sheet nor a show-cause notice was ever served to the petitioner prior to his retirement on December 31, 2024.
Matter Adjourned to November: Taking note of the legal submissions, the High Court listed the petition for detailed arguments on November 17, 2026, directing the state to explain the grounds for withholding statutory pensionary disbursements.
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